The Petroleum Services Association of Canada (PSAC) today announced it has helped raise a total of more than $5.3 million for the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) over 18 years of presenting the annual STARS & Spurs Gala. This year’s gala brought in the highest total ever raised in the history of the event at $720,000, once again demonstrating the generosity of Canada’s oil and gas industry in Calgary. Over 1,000 guests attended the gala held Saturday, January 21, 2012 at the BMO Centre.

PSAC credits all sectors of the oil and gas industry – producers, services, drilling and pipelines – for working together to make the gala such a long-term success. “This year’s turnout and the ongoing support speak volumes about the value our entire industry places on STARS and the critical work they do,” said Mark Salkeld, President and CEO of PSAC. “Our event helps ensure that STARS’ emergency medical response services remain available to oil patch workers, their families and communities across western Canada.”

The 18th annual gala included a moving speech from STARS’ Very Important Patient for 2012, Darren Zatwarnitski and his family, speaking about all that he has accomplished since being transported in the STARS helicopter in 2003 following a motorcycle accident. After hearing Darren’s amazing story, guests then toasted this year’s Honourary Patron, Murray Cobbe, Executive Chairman of Trican Well Service Ltd., Chairman of the 2003 STARS & Spurs Gala and past chair of the Petroleum Services Association of Canada.

Gala guests enjoyed dinner, performances by Canadian Country Music Award winning band Doc Walker, raffles, auctions, dancing and the chance to network, all with the help of guest emcee Dave Rutherford of QR77. Special guests, included Premier Alison Redford; Minister of Energy Ted Morton; Minister of Finance Ron Liepert; Manmeet Bhullar, Minister of Service Alberta; Tereasa Woo-Paw, MLA, Calgary McKay; Richard Pootmans, Deputy Mayor of Calgary; Dr. Tom Feasby, Dean of Medicine, University of Calgary; demonstrating the strong bonds forged between the oil patch community and STARS.

“We are truly honoured and grateful to receive such amazing support from PSAC, its members and the STARS & Spurs Gala committee,” says Dr. Greg Powell, STARS CEO. “Funds raised at this gala contribute significantly to our mission of providing emergency medical care and rapid transportation to critically ill and injured patients.” “This partnership between PSAC and STARS has been well nurtured over the past 18 years,” said Mark Salkeld, President and CEO of PSAC. “The STARS & Spurs Gala is a one-of-a-kind industry event and the money raised by our collective efforts is more important than ever. As long as STARS increases our ability to access emergency medical services, our support will not waiver. We congratulate STARS on another year of critical work in our community, and look forward to many more years working together.”

The Petroleum Services Association of Canada is the national trade association representing the service, supply and manufacturing sectors within the upstream petroleum industry. PSAC represents a diverse range of nearly 260 member companies, employing more than 58,000 people and contracting almost exclusively to oil and gas exploration and production companies. PSAC member companies represent over 80 per cent of the business volume generated in the petroleum services industry.